Dale Appleton
@dale-a.bsky.social
Retired parkie, not quite so retired fire aviation specialist. All thoughts and comments my own. Once took a photo.
That's interesting news. The VEAC Act obliges land managers to abide by the various recommendations. That's why we have protected areas, because they are protected by legislation.
December 5, 2025 at 1:28 AM
That's interesting news. The VEAC Act obliges land managers to abide by the various recommendations. That's why we have protected areas, because they are protected by legislation.
Indeed, hence the "wild" fires visible in the Norther Territory. Firestick farming.
November 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Indeed, hence the "wild" fires visible in the Norther Territory. Firestick farming.
Great piece of writing. As you point out, it's not a great leap of logic to suggest ethnicity plays a part in labeling.
November 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Great piece of writing. As you point out, it's not a great leap of logic to suggest ethnicity plays a part in labeling.
Good idea, bad outcome. They'll all want seawalls built to protect investments.
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Good idea, bad outcome. They'll all want seawalls built to protect investments.
Be interesting to see how this will work out. Victoria has around 2000 equivalent remote area firefighters, plus another 1000 or more surge capacity. They are arduous rated fire fighters.
How a RAFT crew will integrate will be of interest.
How a RAFT crew will integrate will be of interest.
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Be interesting to see how this will work out. Victoria has around 2000 equivalent remote area firefighters, plus another 1000 or more surge capacity. They are arduous rated fire fighters.
How a RAFT crew will integrate will be of interest.
How a RAFT crew will integrate will be of interest.
Want a second hand Merc? I know a bloke...
November 7, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Want a second hand Merc? I know a bloke...
Familiar all right. Not like that has occurred before.
October 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Familiar all right. Not like that has occurred before.
Kora time! About time.
October 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Kora time! About time.
Not sure if you have read these, Stephen J Pyne @sjpyne.bsky.social has two books on fire history in Aus, Burning Bush, and Still Burning Bush. Really worth reading about fire suppression, Royal Commissions, etc. The last book The Pyrocene is worth a read as well.
October 16, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Not sure if you have read these, Stephen J Pyne @sjpyne.bsky.social has two books on fire history in Aus, Burning Bush, and Still Burning Bush. Really worth reading about fire suppression, Royal Commissions, etc. The last book The Pyrocene is worth a read as well.
Sounds like you would make an excellent Fire Behavior Analyst. If you have the interest, happy to chat about that kind of thing.
It's worth noting that for elevated FBIs, suppression efforts will likely not succeed. No matter how quick the response.
It's worth noting that for elevated FBIs, suppression efforts will likely not succeed. No matter how quick the response.
October 15, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Sounds like you would make an excellent Fire Behavior Analyst. If you have the interest, happy to chat about that kind of thing.
It's worth noting that for elevated FBIs, suppression efforts will likely not succeed. No matter how quick the response.
It's worth noting that for elevated FBIs, suppression efforts will likely not succeed. No matter how quick the response.
That's operational doctrine. As a citizen, there's much you don't see in terms of ops, command and control. Victoria has always been at the forefront of wildfire fighting in many ways. Just one facet is pre determined dispatch of aircraft. Bombers, helitacks dispatch automatically.
October 15, 2025 at 11:41 PM
That's operational doctrine. As a citizen, there's much you don't see in terms of ops, command and control. Victoria has always been at the forefront of wildfire fighting in many ways. Just one facet is pre determined dispatch of aircraft. Bombers, helitacks dispatch automatically.
To continue, the FBI, and cHaines does give very good guidance for expected fire behavior. I've never been really surprised by rates of spread, or spotting distances while working around the state over the last decade or two. (one or two exceptions)
October 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
To continue, the FBI, and cHaines does give very good guidance for expected fire behavior. I've never been really surprised by rates of spread, or spotting distances while working around the state over the last decade or two. (one or two exceptions)
Oh, I see. There's a daily fire weather forecast put out by the BoM (IDV18560) That gives FBI cHaines, lightning, etc. It's not publicly available as far as I know. The BoM is doing up a new website, might be worth asking for more detailed fire weather.
October 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Oh, I see. There's a daily fire weather forecast put out by the BoM (IDV18560) That gives FBI cHaines, lightning, etc. It's not publicly available as far as I know. The BoM is doing up a new website, might be worth asking for more detailed fire weather.
If you are an emergency services member, then emcop is the best place. The FDR index gives a pretty good idea of expected behavior (as in the number within the band)
c-Haines can be roughly worked out by looking at the cloud base height.
www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecast...
c-Haines can be roughly worked out by looking at the cloud base height.
www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecast...
www.bom.gov.au
October 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
If you are an emergency services member, then emcop is the best place. The FDR index gives a pretty good idea of expected behavior (as in the number within the band)
c-Haines can be roughly worked out by looking at the cloud base height.
www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecast...
c-Haines can be roughly worked out by looking at the cloud base height.
www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecast...
You might need to send The Guardian the scrabble letters N, O, and T.
October 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
You might need to send The Guardian the scrabble letters N, O, and T.
Ran across the very same, major supporter of The Great Ozzie Hike. The GOH brings people together to walk long distances. People walk various distances, raising money to support good causes.
"Our primary emphasis is on fostering connections and nurturing friendships."
"Our primary emphasis is on fostering connections and nurturing friendships."
October 14, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Ran across the very same, major supporter of The Great Ozzie Hike. The GOH brings people together to walk long distances. People walk various distances, raising money to support good causes.
"Our primary emphasis is on fostering connections and nurturing friendships."
"Our primary emphasis is on fostering connections and nurturing friendships."
Great list. If only we had sovereign wealth fund to invest in transport. Catering wise (29. Catering) on V-line, you could not design a worse outcome than the current offering. Serves only three cars of a six car set.
October 9, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Great list. If only we had sovereign wealth fund to invest in transport. Catering wise (29. Catering) on V-line, you could not design a worse outcome than the current offering. Serves only three cars of a six car set.
The windfarm management tracks are a firefighters dream! Easy access over rough ground, excellent dead edges.
Aircraft wise, as the article states, no different to work around than the many other hazards in the wire environment.
Aircraft wise, as the article states, no different to work around than the many other hazards in the wire environment.
September 30, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The windfarm management tracks are a firefighters dream! Easy access over rough ground, excellent dead edges.
Aircraft wise, as the article states, no different to work around than the many other hazards in the wire environment.
Aircraft wise, as the article states, no different to work around than the many other hazards in the wire environment.
RSS, the social media vaccine.
September 19, 2025 at 1:23 AM
RSS, the social media vaccine.
That's old school. Do the same thing for finding electric fence faults. Detune and listen.
September 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
That's old school. Do the same thing for finding electric fence faults. Detune and listen.